The entire process of route clearance/countermine operations described above fails to achieve the desired result if the information about what is cleared and what is countered is not widely disseminated throughout the brigade in the most timely way possible - and routinely updated. Units at the JRTC who encounter minefields, for example, either fail to provide adequate minefield information or they report no information at all. This reporting shortfall only makes worse the results of the unit difficulties with route clearance/countermine operations.
At brigade level, the engineer, in conjunction with the S2 and the S3, is the proponent for battletracking this information.
At battalion level, the S2 is the proponent since there most likely is not an engineer available at the TOC.
Technique:
For
units encountering minefields:
1.SECURE
the
area, if possible, before
any
movement.
2.
MARK
the
minefield so it can easily be seen by drivers and dismounts both day and night.
3.REPORT
the
minefield; see Figure 13 for a sample format for the collecting and reporting
of minefield information.
- Unit:______________________________________________________________
- DTG:______________________________________________________________
- GRID:_____________________________________________________________
- Site Description(creek,path,intersection):________________________________
- How minefield was discovered:_________________________________________
- Detection Method:___________________________________________________
- Enemy Activity:_____________________________________________________
- Marking Method:____________________________________________________
- Mine Quantities and Description:_______________________________________
- How Camouflaged:___________________________________________________
Procedure:
For
tracking enemy and friendly minefields:
1.
Post a minefield chart (see Figure 14) and overlay depicting both
enemy
and friendly mines and obstacles, and prominently
display
the
information in the TOC. Information posted should include:
Assign obstacle numbers and list who received the information.
As of:_____________________
| Obstacle No. | Grid | Type Of Mines | Time Cleared | Method Of Marking | Dissemination | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.
Post a route clearance chart (see Figure 15). Information posted should include:
As of:_____________________
| Route | Grid (From-To) | Clearance Level | Time Cleared | By Whom | Secured By | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3.
Engineer Analysis Duties:
4.
S2 Analysis Duties:
5. S3 Information Dissemination Duties (at both brigade and battalion levels): get the information to every unit that uses the road network within the AO.
6.
Resultant S3 planning considerations (at both brigade and battalion levels):
The technique for units to report minefields and obstacles, and the procedures used by brigade and battalion level TOCs to record and report this information takes the entire process full circle. The predictive intelligence, and its resultant products begin the cycle, and then unit route clearance/countermine actions complete the cycle.
By using the methods and techniques described, units can more intelligently plan and prepare themselves to successfully conduct route clearance/countermine operations, not only at the JRTC, but also in real-world operations wherever the unit may be deployed.
Table
of Contents
Route
Clearance Operations, Part 2
Using
Dismounted Mechanized Infantry
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